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A troupe of jazzy Swedes invaded the Chumash Samala Showroom on Thursday night, re-creating the long-popular, infectious songs of ABBA.

Only one member of the original ABBA touring group was on stage to win applause from the full house, bassist Mike Watson, who’s actually a Brit. He’s also known as the Napoleon figure on the Waterloo album cover.

As for the performance, it was a high-energy night, with bright lights, wailing electric guitars, booming sound, and dazzling costumes. The set list featured jazzed-up versions of old favorites like “Fernando,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “Waterloo” — sort of like Stockholm meets Las Vegas.

Formed in the early 1970s by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA (the first letters of their first names) broke up in 1982 due to personal difficulties. Otherwise, they could still be touring, I suppose.

On Thursday night the 10-member ABBA The Concert tribute group had high-spirited fans dancing along in the aisles and really got the crowd on its feet and waving arms with the hit of the night, “Mama Mia.”

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From what I remember, Agnetha has anxiety issues but they all still get along well. One of the men in the group actually went on to say he's good friends with the corresponding ex-wife adding "It's not like America where people get divorced and don't speak to each other".

Answer to Mr. Volok's question is Sally Carr from the early 1970's Scottish band Middle Of The Road.

It was posited back on Barney's column in 2010 that Mr. Brantingham might actually be Swedish, and moreover, closely related to the members of ABBA. Please read the October, 22, 9:46 p.m. log entry that deals with this very serious subject matter. Mr. B, if in fact you are a native of Sweden, you have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing. Don't live in the closet any longer if you are, but come out of the closet, and when you do, kick the door off the hinges because there must be a LOT of dust in that closet. Now for the link to the post: http://www.independent.com/news/2010/...